How to Kill Mold in a Plant Pot : Indoor Planting, by ehowgarden on YouTube. 1 min 48 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 48 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Put on gloves and move the pot away from your other plants. Set it on newspaper or in a sink so fallen mold does not spread.
Scrape the fuzzy mold off the top of the soil with a spoon. Throw the mold and the top layer of soil into a sealed bag.
Slide the plant out of the pot and look at the roots. If mold runs through the soil or the roots are brown and mushy, repot in fresh mix.
Wash the empty pot in hot soapy water. Wipe it with one part white vinegar to three parts water, then rinse and let it dry fully.
Repot the plant in fresh potting soil and keep the base of the stem above the soil line. Water lightly until it drains out the bottom.
Let the top 2 to 3 cm of soil dry before you water again. Push a finger in to check instead of watering on a schedule.
Space pots apart and run a small fan nearby to keep air moving. Empty water from saucers so pots never stand in it.
Dust the soil surface with ground cinnamon to help slow new mold growth.
Tips and common mistakes
White fuzzy mold on soil is usually harmless, but it means the mix is staying too wet.
Terracotta is porous and soaks up liquid, so rinse it well after cleaning and let it dry before refilling.
Do not mix vinegar with other cleaners, and keep the drying pot out of reach of children and pets.
Questions
Is mold on houseplant soil dangerous?
The common white fuzzy mold on soil is usually harmless to plants and people. It is a sign of damp, still air, so fix the watering and airflow.
Will the mold come back after I clean the pot?
It can if the soil stays wet. Water less often, use a pot with a drainage hole, and keep the plant in a spot with good airflow.
Can I reuse the old soil?
Throw it out if it is covered in mold. Fresh potting mix is the safer choice, and do not reuse soil from a plant that had root rot.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
